The MSc examination serves as a departmental review of the candidate and his/her research.
MSc exams are scheduled by the Graduate Program Manager. After approval by the Supervisor, copies of the thesis must be distributed to the members of the student’s Supervisory Committee for approval, with at least two weeks allowed for reading and comments. After the thesis has been approved by the committee the exam may be scheduled. One PDF copy of the thesis must be given to the Graduate Program Manager, together with the signed Master’s Thesis Approval Form. A minimum of two weeks must be allowed between submission of the thesis to the Graduate Program Manager and the examination.
The MSc Examining Committee will be Chaired by a faculty member who has not been directly associated with the preparation of the thesis. The examining committee will be comprised of the research supervisor, one committee member, a Departmental examiner, and the Chairperson.
The Departmental Examiner does not necessarily have to have close knowledge of the specific research topic, but should have sufficient expertise in a related field such that they will be able to evaluate the candidate's ability to respond to questions and defend the thesis. The primary role of the Departmental examiner is to ensure Departmental expectations of the quality of the thesis and defense are met. The Chairperson is responsible to the Head of the Department and to the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and acts as moderator of the exam.
The MSc examination serves as a departmental review of the candidate and his/her research. An audience is welcome and encouraged. It will proceed as follows:
- The student will present a brief summary of the thesis (not to exceed 25 minutes in length).
- Members of the audience should be asked if they have any questions for the candidate. Following these questions, a short break should be announced to allow any members of the audience to leave if they desire.
- Each examiner should ask questions for 15-20 min, with the option of a brief second round for follow-up questions. The Chairperson May ask a question or two out of interest or for purposes of clarification but is not normally expected to do so.
- Following the examination, the candidate and audience members will be asked to leave the room and the Committee will hold an in camera session. The Chairperson will ask the Supervisor to give an opinion of the student and the student’s performance during the examination.
- At this it will be at the Chairperson’s discretion to ask the supervisor to submit either a pass or fail grade and leave the room. If the supervisor is asked to leave, the written grade will not be revealed to the other Committee Members but will be included in the final determination.
- Each of the remaining members of the Committee will then assign either a pass or fail for the thesis. The Chairperson does not vote. The examining Committee may recommend that the thesis is acceptable in the form presented, or it may request changes be made to the thesis before the title page is signed. Responsibility for ensuring that such changes are made will lie with the Supervisor.
- At this point if the thesis is deemed “outstanding” a note should be made in the chair report that the committee feels the thesis should be put forward for a thesis award and the rationale for doing so.
- A fail will be assigned if at least two of the three examiners assign a failing grade and must be accompanied by a written summary outlining the reasons for this decision. There is no recourse for a student who fails the exam.
- The Chairperson will then recall the student (and Supervisor) and announce the decision. The Chairperson May ask at this time that the Thesis Approval Form be signed by the Committee or may ask that the student first make required revisions.
- The Chairperson will complete a M.Sc. Examination Report (MSc Chair Report) and submit it, with the supervisor’s signature, to zool.gradprgm@ubc.ca in a timely manner.
After members of the Examining Committee have signed the Thesis Approval Form, the student will follow the Final Submission Instructions, submit the required paperwork and upload their thesis to cIRcle.